We may read a hundred books, and we may inform ourselves thoroughly, but – in the end – the best way to get to know a different culture is by experiencing it first-hand.

When Kalemba and Faith applied for the B360 programme, they were confident that living and working in a well-developed country would not only help them understand customs and culture but would also be a valuable source of inspiration and motivation to broaden their horizons, giving them a competitive edge to be successful in pursuing their academic and professional goals.

Now, before they came to Switzerland, Kalemba and Faith had a clear vision of how work and private life would look like here – but that's the thing about living abroad for some time, we discover the unexpected.​

Of PhDs and car rentals

Named after her paternal grandmother 'Kalemba' is Zambian and means 'writer'. Interestingly, Kalemba's name matches her fondness for putting words on paper. She enjoyed writing essays in school and still delights in all the writing involved in her job as a research assistant or university student. To the question of whether she had a flair for journalism, Kalemba responds with a shy "Is it?", pauses and giggles with a broad smile. "Actually, I co-authored an article that was published in a local newspaper", she says. Who knows what is in store for the future, but first, her focus lies on completing her master's degree and looking for a job in econonomic research. Later on, Kalemba plans on enrolling for a PhD and opening a car rental business. A car rental business? "Yes, it is very lucrative in Zambia", says future PhD and entrepreneur Kalemba.

Dare to dream and set yourself up for success

Kalemba heard about the B360 programme from one of her seniors at university who posted scenic pictures of Switzerland. "I was like, 'How come you are in Switzerland? How did you get there?'" she laughs.​

Back then, she was in the middle of pursuing her master's degree in Economics whilst working as a research assistant in the Trade and Investment unit at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research and was "so overwhelmed with school and work" that she almost didn't apply. But then Kalemba gave herself another push. "You have to give your dreams a chance to come true", she says and feels that "working in an environment outside Zambia to see how wealthy countries handle things" will allow her to replicate what she learned and, ultimately, pass her knowledge on and be more successful at what she does.

Improving the economic situation in Zimbabwe

Faith's middle name is Zimbabwean and means 'embrace, receive, and welcome'. She is a third-year bachelor's student of Economics at Namibia's National University of Science and Technology. "With the academic credentials and a direct exposure to developed economies such as Switzerland, I want to address the economic challenges my country faces."​

Perseverance pays off

Much like the meanings of her two given names combined, Faith embraces that people can shape their own destinies: "I'm someone who believes anything is possible, and so I always try to motivate others to try things. People are often scared to go for an opportunity because they think 'I won't make it' or 'I am not good enough'." Faith has faith in people's chances to shine, and she generously shares her insights and encourages people to dare try things.​

From her own trial and error experiences, Faith is convinced that one mustn't give up on missed opportunities. So, instead – after not being accepted to a similar programme the first time around – she went back and improved her approach for the B360 application. She firmly believes that remaining awake, open, and better prepared will allow anyone to seize future opportunities more skilfully as they present themselves.​

Switzerland – cold temperatures and highly organised

"I was told it was cold, but it exceeded my expectations", Kalemba says. "I remember stepping out of the airport. It felt like walking into a freezer!" she laughs. Also foreign to her was the level of organisation and in-advance planning: "Who schedules a meeting two months in advance?" But it took Kalemba only a short time to realise how useful and time-efficient it was to know exactly where and when to meet whom for what, and Faith agrees one hundred per cent.​

‘Zambian time’ vs ‘Swiss time’

Faith remarks on her astonishment by how thorough Swiss public transport is organised. "I did not expect it to be so efficient. So, for example, when the schedule says the train arrives at 10 a.m., it arrives at 10 a.m.!" And Kalemba adds: "Swiss people respect time. Quite unlike back home where some people practice the notion of 'Zambian time', which entails a relaxed attitude towards punctuality, be it for work meetings or social events". Witnessing the effectiveness of thorough organisation and punctuality, both wish to incorporate Swiss work ethics in their daily activities back home.

Their biggest surprise – the human factor 

While both believed work would be strictly formal – formal attire, formal conversations, and work-life separated from private life, they were pleasantly surprised that this wasn't the case. Instead, they appreciated bringing their personalities to work and colleagues genuinely caring about each other's well-being – something they wish to replicate and encourage back home, too.

Learning on the job and shining within the organisation

During her internship, Faith is part of the Anti-Money Laundering Monitoring (AMLM) team, supporting her colleagues with assessing alerts. She also gets to meet and learn what other teams do. "I joined the Financial Intelligence Unit for two days to see what they do, and I was with the Data Analytics team for another two days. So, my tasks are not limited to transaction monitoring", she says. Faith appreciates how she gets advice on where and how to improve at the end of a workday.

Kalemba works with Julius Baer Academy's All Staff Development & Location and the Leadership team. A daily task is to evaluate and write comments on their current offers. "On one day, I could be researching and compiling courses on risk management and compliance. On the other day, I'd work with the team for e-learning or conduct data analysis for the type and number of staff using certain offerings. For me, the biggest takeaway is the emphasis on learning and development. Through this, one becomes more adept and efficient in what one does.” Of course, back home, people learn too, but Kalemba appreciates the emphasis by management here, ensuring you shine within the organization.

Where one chapter ends, a new one begins

While the two are exploring Switzerland with their host families and enjoying fun and educational times on and off the job, from direct exposure to working at a Swiss bank, apéros – an on-the-job ritual unfamiliar to the two before visiting Switzerland – to trying typical Swiss food like Raclette, Fondue, and Rösti or having a blast sledging, daring to ski, and a spontaneous music jam session at a music store in Constance all good things must come to an end. But with it, a new – and thoroughly organised – chapter begins for Kalemba and Faith. One in which they’ll be paving their way to success and driving positive transformation in their countries celebrating smaller and bigger victories with their fellow students, work colleagues, future employees, and loved ones.​​​​